Pool Chemicals (195 items found)

A home swimming pool can transform your leisure hours during the hotter months of the year. But you’ll need to take care of your pool’s water hygiene to enjoy swimming worry-free. Shop our pool chemicals section for a full range of products to treat your swimming pool and keep the fun going all summer long. 

The Importance of Swimming Pool Chemicals 

Indoor and outdoor swimming pool chemicals help keep your pool and pool water healthy and ready to swim in. From chlorine and bromide to alkaline and algae remover, pool chemicals come in different forms and serve many functions. 

Although every chemical plays its part, chlorine is arguably the most important. It needs to be added to most pools that are kept filled for longer than a day or two, for a few reasons: 

• Reduces risk of waterborne illness: Adding chlorine to your pool reduces the risks of spreading waterborne illness, from minor infections and stomach upsets to more serious issues caused by bacterial growth. 
• Prevents algae buildup: Chlorine also helps stop the buildup of algae and other water contaminants, helping to ensure a pleasant swim all through the summer.

How Much Chlorine to Add to a Pool?

It is important that your pool chlorine levels are consistent or the benefits can be outweighed by skin irritation, unpleasant odors and the familiar "swimmers' red eyes" that using too much chlorine can cause. Recommended chlorine levels for home pools are between 1-3 ppm (parts per million). You can find pool test kits to test for things like chlorine, pH and alkalinity in our pool equipment section, featuring essential items from brands like Jed Pool Tools. 

What is Pool Shock? 

Pool shock is a concentrated dose of chlorine used to treat pool water. When your pool is newly filled or the water’s chlorine levels have fallen, using liquid pool shock treatments can sort out any problems by quickly adjusting chlorine levels. 

Use testing strips or kits to keep track of your pool’s chlorine levels to know when you should administer pool shock. The average pool needs a shock treatment about once every two weeks, but factors like hot weather, heavy rainfall or pool use frequency can affect that. 

Pool Chlorine Tablets

It's possible to use liquid chlorine for pool hygiene by carefully measuring out the right dilution and adding it whenever necessary. However, pool chlorine tablets make a much more convenient hands-off solution. When used with a floating container, chlorine tablets slowly but steadily release the chemical into the pool water to keep it topped up to an effective level.

Pool chlorine tablets also make an excellent supplement to frequent testing and shock treatments. 

Alkalinity, pH and Algae Guard Pool Products 

While chlorine is undoubtedly important, you will need a few more things to keep your pool ready for any-time use. 

• pH balancers: Increase or decrease your pool’s pH levels as needed. 
• Alkalinity increaser: Help your pool resist changes to pH levels. 
• Algae remover: Algae guards work in tandem with chlorine to help prevent a variety of algae outbreaks, including mustard, black or green algae. 

Many of our pool chemicals are available in both liquid and granule form, offering plenty of options to choose from when keeping your pool clean. 

Shop Swimming Pool Treatments at Ace 

Keep your swimming pool in great condition throughout the warmer months with swimming pool chemicals near you at Ace Hardware. Shop a pool shock, chlorine tablets, test strips and more, then browse our swimming pool toys and games to truly enjoy your pool this summer!